Polls show that the public thinks trans athletes should be banned. With the constant lies that the Republicans keep putting out and no one responding to the lies, of course the public thinks that.
On issues like evolution, vaccine requirements, and GMO foods, American public opinion has long been out of step with the scientific community.ThemBy Mathew RodriguezAugust 12, 2026Most Americans are uncomfortable with two things: transgender athletes and science.According to polling data shared this week by the Pew Research Center in light of the current debate around the WNBA, a majority of Americans (73%) say that they are uncomfortable with the idea of trans athletes playing on sports teams that do not match their gender as assigned at birth. A smaller majority (66%) say they would support a law or policy that legally bar trans athletes from participating on sports teams that match their gender identity.The results of the survey were even more skewed when political affiliation was taken into account. Among Republicans, 91% said that they would be uncomfortable with trans athletes, while only a small majority of Democrats (55%) said the same.[...]Of course, the results reflect a political world in which right-wing politicians have been demonizing trans youth and trans athletes as wedge issues, despite the majority of Americans supporting trans rights more broadly for several election cycles.
What do we do?
Despite Americans’ distaste for trans athletes playing on their preferred teams, the majority still support protecting trans people from discrimination in employment, housing, and in public accommodations, per a 2025 Pew Research Center report. The same percentage (56%) would like to bar doctors from offering gender-affirming care to youth, once again going against science.
My thinking on this, which I think many trans people might be opposed to, is to refocus our efforts on holding on to what we have! The people are behind us on discrimination, but not on sports.
Let's face it: Trump has the "bully pulpit." He can spout forth all the hate and lies, and we can hope to counter that. Trump has created an image, through his lies, that we cannot win.
We have to take a page out of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals and fight the battles that we can win!
Our #1 goal should be defeating the Republicans, We follow Alinsky's rules!
The Republicans have "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it," and it is working—but against us!
So let's step back a moment and ask who is actually doing the targeting. That is our target. An Alinsky organizer would not necessarily treat "conservatives" as the target; that's too broad. They'd ask: Who has the power to make the decision we're trying to change?
Yes, we want to end discrimination in sports and everywhere else. We make up somewhere around 0.8%, according to current estimates. We do not have any political power! I am not saying that we give up on trans athletes but postpone it until after the elections. We can't let the Republicans make it an issue in the elections.
We need to ask the question: Who has the power to make the decision we're trying to change?
- The president
- Congress
- State legislatures
- School boards
Those should be our targets to defeat in the elections. Yes, our ultimate goal is to end discrimination—in all aspects of our lives—but we need to win in November. That is our #1 goal in this election cycle. When we passed the nondiscrimination laws, we had this coalition behind us!
Core Tactical Rules
- Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it: Isolate a specific person or responsibility rather than fighting a vague system.
- Never go outside the expertise of your people: Keep actions grounded in what your group knows and feels secure doing to avoid fear and retreat.
- Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy: Keep the opposition off-balance and anxious by forcing them onto unfamiliar ground.
- Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules: Use their own standards and written policies to expose contradictions and hypocrisy.
We follow Alinsky's rules!
The Republicans have "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it," and it is working—but against us!
So let's step back a moment and ask who is actually doing the targeting. That is our target. An Alinsky organizer would not necessarily treat "conservatives" as the target; that's too broad. They'd ask: Who has the power to make the decision we're trying to change?
Yes, we want to end discrimination in sports and everywhere else. We make up somewhere around 0.8%, according to current estimates. We do not have any political power!
We need to ask the question: Who has the power to make the decision we're trying to change?
The presidentCongressState legislaturesSchool boards
Those should be our targets to overthrow in the elections. Yes, our ultimate goal is to end discrimination—in all aspects of our lives—but we need to win in November. That is our #1 goal in this election cycle. When we passed the nondiscrimination laws, we had this coalition behind us!
CT TransAdvocacy Coalition
CT Women's Education and Legal Fund
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
CT AFL-CIO
Anti-Defamation League CT
New Haven Pride Center
CT Sexual Assault Crisis Services
Transitioning and Loving Life (TaLL)
True Colors Sexual Minority Youth and Family Services
CT American Civil Liberties Union
CT Outreach Society
NARAL Pro-Choice CT
The Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities
UConn Rainbow Center
UConn Women's Center
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Unitarian Universalist Society: East
Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
New England Healthcare Employees Union SEIU 1199NE
CT Citizen Action Group
National Council of Jewish Women (CT)
CT Chapter of the National Organization for Women
Triangle Community Center
CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence
CT Clergy for Full Equality
CT Latina/os Achieving Rights & Opportunities
Human Rights Campaign CT
PFLAG Southeastern CT
PFLAG Hartford
City of Hartford Commission on LGBT Issues
National Association of Social Workers (CT Chapter)
City of Norwalk, Human Relations Commission
GLSEN CT
I am not arguing that trans athletes don't matter. I am arguing that political priorities matter, and we have to face the political reality in front of us. We cannot do this alone... we need a coalition! Let us make our immediate goal winning in November.
What do you think?
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